A statement from Mack Brown on the death of Texas head coach and legend Darrell Royal:
Mack Brown and Darrell Royal in the Texas locker room after a game.
“Today is a very sad day. I lost a wonderful friend, a mentor, a confidant and my hero. College football lost maybe its best ever and the world lost a great man. I can hardly put in words how much Coach Royal means to me and all that he has done for me and my family. I wouldn’t even be at Texas without Coach. His council and friendship meant a lot to me before I came to Texas, but it’s been my guiding light for my 15 years here.
“Coach gave so much more to the State of Texas and college football than he took away. He forgot more football than most of us will ever know, including me. His impact on the game, the coaches and players, the community and the millions of lives he touched, is insurmountable. He will be missed in so many ways.
“I lost my Dad when I was 54, and Coach filled a real void in my life and treated me like family. Sally and I gained a lot coming to Texas and being a part of this tremendous program but no more than our relationship with Coach and Edith. They were our closest of friends. Our heart pours out to Edith and the family and our thoughts and prayers are with her and the family. We will always be there to lend any and all support that we can as she and Coach always did for us.”
The University of Texas has confirmed that legendary Longhorns head coach Darrell Royal has passed away at the age of 88. Royal is Texas’ all-time winningest coach and led the Horns to three national championships (1963, 1969, and 1970) and won 11 Southwest Conference championships.
I was lucky enough to meet Coach Royal on several occasions while at UT through the Terry Foundation. He was one of three people who interviewed me for the scholarship and being able to talk with him about football and growing up a coach’s son was an incredible moment.
It’s a sad day for Texas fans. RIP Coach.
WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from the Texas game against the Kansas Jayhawks.
Case McCoy did it again. Off the bench for the gamewinning drive. (Photo: The Daily Texan_
Pre-Game WTH Lawrence?! Some of the Longhorn players saw more fans at their high school playoff games than the 40,097 that were in attendance at this game. Interesting note that the 1983 television show “The Day After” was filmed here. Both of these programs had a lot of waste to bury after this one.
1st Quarter (12:37) WTH Gray?! Johnathan Gray first carry of the game went for 31 yards and the drive ended in a touchdown. Crazily that would be the only lead the Longhorns would have until the end of the game. Gray’s 111 yards should surely earn him the starting job for next week.
2nd Quarter (13:45) WTH Sims?! Is it me or does every UT opponent put up career highs in running yards? James Sims took the handoff for a 64 yard run which started KU toward their first touchdown of the day. Sims puts up 176 yards rushing on a UT defense that cannot stop a runny nose. Oh yeah, Kenny Vaccaro added a few more yards to this run with a personal foul.
Halftime WTH Zebras?! Since this game was lacking a lot to be desired let’s take an inside look at referee Scott Novak and his team that worked this game.
3rd Quarter (8:57) WTH SEC?! The team wants to be a SEC style running team. Getting stopped by the 90th ranked rushing defense in the country on fourth down was demoralizing. Until you see the stats that Texas has the 108th rushing defense in the country.
4th Quarter (13:04) WTH Horseshoe?! After multiple interceptions by David Ash, the coaches decide to put in the lucky charm. Case McCoy provided some sort of spark that ended up in two touchdown drives to win the game. I thought we would have settled the quarterback situation by now. Thank goodness for another McCoy comeback to stave off a loss.
Next up for the Longhorns is a road trip to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders on November 3rd.
Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at @40AcresSports or follow me at @Horns1991. HOOK EM!!
Many fans want the head coach, Mack Brown, to step down at the end of the season. The 2011 turnaround was ushered in with a host of new coaches and a rejuvenated Mack Brown. This 2012 season is under scrutiny because of the horrible loss against OU, the lack of defensive presence and the perceived lack of fight with this team. Mack will eventually leave, but he plans to stay as long as he can while posting winning campaigns. (what is a winning campaign?) Mack Brown says that he has the support of the administration, the athletic department and most of all the big money boosters. Problem is that the people that need to work on this situation may not be on the 40 acres right now. Mack Brown will be the head coach at least until after 2014 season. Let me count the ways:
DeLoss Dodds – Will not end the Mack Brown era because he wants to end his legacy with hiring the second greatest coach in the program history. DeLoss has a $1 million buyout that goes into effect after August 2014. The next AD, which will not be Mack Brown, will have to make the call on the next coach.
Big Money Booster – Will not fire Mack Brown because of all the relationship building and the good will that he has established. They want Mack to retire when he is ready. The word around the program is that the 2013 season is supposed to be the year for a BCS trip for the Horns. A total collapse (another 5-7 season) is the only scenario for them to act.
President Powers & the Regents – Read the latest edition of Texas Monthly and you will see that these two entities have plenty to deal with that has nothing to do with football.
Longhorn Network – This entity does not have control over the coaching decision, but they can certainly influence it. The network would not be here unless Mack Brown was present. Even though, the coach is quick to criticize the amount of time he spends with LHN.
Mack Brown – He is too much of a competitor to leave the ship. He wants to fix this more than anyone, but unfortunately his desire to go out on top may further erode the program. The spirit is willing for Mack but the flesh is weak which means he does not have the energy to reach the high standards that he has set to turn this program around.
Side Note: If Gene Chizik is fired from Auburn, get ready for him to join the defensive staff to try and correct the ills that many people blame Manny Diaz.
I agree with every one that says if you are going to point out the problem you better have a solution. Everyone has names that they want to throw out. I have to give credit to my friend Country Ham that came up with this coach as we were brain storming for a possible candidate for next year or more likely in 2014 if the luster has not left this coach. My suggestion is Dan Mullen who is the head coach for Mississippi State Bulldogs. He has a .622 winning percentage in the SEC over the past four years. He currently has an undefeated team which he will eventually secure his third winning season at MSU. The 40 year old coach will bring the edge, youth and program selling approach like Mack. He has a no nonsense approach with the media, and I think he would gravitate to the big stage which includes LHN. Mack has set the tone by recruiting coaches from the SEC, and Dan Mullen fits right into that direction. Dan does have credibility with 2 National Championship rings and comes from the Urban Meyer coaching tree if that does anything for you.
Mack will eventually leave because he will not want to pass Darrell Royal’s all time record for wins which is at 167. (Mack has 142 wins to date). The biggest issue is where is the program headed more than what is Mack Brown want to do.
Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on Twitter at 40AcresSports or follow me at Horns1991. HOOK EM!!
WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from the Texas game against the Baylor Bears.
QB David Ash had a solid performance for the Longhorns against Baylor.
1st Quarter (14:43) WTH Lighting?! Mack Brown needed a quick start to avoid most of the 101,353 fans turning on him and the team. Well, Daje Johnson took care of that with an electrifying 84 yard touchdown run on the FIRST play of the game.
1st Quarter (2:42) WTH Williams?! The Big XII leading receiver took the defense to task especially on a simple stop and go for an 80 yard touchdown to give the Bears their first lead of the game. Manny Diaz does this count as an explosive play?
1st Quarter (0:00) WTH Students?! Well, if you ever wondered where the student section is at DKR, you found out before the 2nd quarter. All the students broke out black Livestrong shirts to support the 15th anniversary of the organization. It’s interesting the salute with all that is swirling around Lance.
2nd Quarter (6:18) WTH 50 Shades?! Could not pass up the chance to report on the first touchdown of the season for one Johnathan Gray. He put a move on safety Sam Hall that left the defenders clothes on the ground. At this point in the game, BU Coach Phil Bennett and Manny Diaz were getting ready to work on their resume at halftime.
3rd Quarter (12:55) WTH Okafor?! Alex Okafor called out the defense to play tougher after last week’s game. He needed to be called out for a crucial offside on fourth down that would have ended the Baylor touchdown drive.
3rd Quarter (6:31) WTH Black Swan?! The highlight of the night on the Godzillatron and the television broadcast was a shot of Natalie Portman. Wonder why she was there… who cares!
3rd Quarter (5:56) WTH Sooners?! OU fans in the stands wearing a Beat Texas shirt. Looks like these two guys forgot that the Red River Rivalry was last week in Dallas. Longhorn fans are still trying to forget.
3rd Quarter (2:17) WTH Mad Hatter?! Art Briles threw his ball cap so high in the air in disgust over the late Texas timeout on fourth down that WR Tevin Reese had plenty of time to make the fair catch signal when he caught his hat.
4th Quarter (2:34) WTH Mulligan?! The head referee announced to the crowd that Texas would get a “Do Over” to match up with the substitutions that Baylor was implementing. Mack Brown hopes next time a “King’s X” will be called when he needs to surrender.
Next up for the Longhorns is a trip to Kansas to play the Jayhawks on October 27th.
Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at @40AcresSports or follow me at @Horns1991. HOOK EM!!
Texas head coach Mack Brown didn't have any answers for the Sooners. (AP Photo/Michael Mulvey)
You will not see the normal WTH article this week from the Red River Rivalry because there was nothing good to report. After being annihilated for the second straight year from your biggest rival, it’s a reminder of where the program stands.
The players and coaches talk about needing to get to work. Mack Brown said that I know what is wrong and I am the man to fix it. Unfortunately, we have been down this road before and the culture is not in place for this to be fixed. Sure the Horns can rally from this huge let down and win a couple of more games but the underlying problem is still there.
The problem is the culture that has been established on the 40 acres. Fans enjoy hearing how recruit after recruit say that they love the family atmosphere that Mack Brown delivers. Many coaches say that you have to de-recruit the player when you get the kid on campus. The UT staff may want to rethink how they de-recruit a player. A high school kid feels like he has already made it when he sees the facilities, the opportunities playing in front of so many people, and the fact that they are on television all the time not to mention that the LHN is there to record their every move. It is very hard for a head coach to legislate the discipline when times are tough while the team sees the head coach as more of a father figure. The last time Coach Brown, who is 61 years old, unloaded on his team and the staff, he had his first losing season and lost most of his coaches.
When Texas has won conference titles, the leadership has come from the players (McCoy & Young) themselves. Florida, Oklahoma and Alabama take their direction from their head coach. You will get a Tebow and a Bradford that will step up and take a lead role, but you know that Urban Meyer and Bob Stoops have their finger prints on their teams. Players and coaches take the identity of their head coach. Right now the identity Mack Brown exudes is an exhausted, questioning and apologetic leader.
Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at @40AcresSports or follow me at @Horns1991. HOOK EM!!
In addition to the beatdown on the scoreboard, Texas left the Red River Rivalry this weekend badly battered and bruised. The official injury report is out and its not pretty:
Junior DE Jackson Jeffcoat sustained a right pectoral muscle rupture in the Oklahoma game, will undergo surgery and is out for the season, Texas’ Head Athletic Trainer for Football Kenny Boyd said on Sunday. It is not the same pectoral muscle Jeffcoat injured in 2011. He had surgery to repair his left pectoral muscle last January and has fully recovered from that injury.
Sophomore QB David Ash sustained a left wrist injury versus the Sooners. His injury occurred during a direct helmet blow to his wrist that resulted in swelling, but initial x-rays show no fracture. He will continue to be evaluated during the week but has not been ruled out for the Baylor game.
Junior DT Brandon Moore (neck sprain) and junior OT Donald Hawkins (left ankle) will be evaluated during the week to determine their availability for the Baylor game, Boyd added. Hawkins sprained his ankle in the first half of the Oklahoma game, and the medical staff did not clear him to return.
Could this weekend have gone any worse? Ugh.
What little respect I had for Bob Stoops goes right out the window at about the 0:45 mark of this University of Oklahoma rap video:
I particularly liked the fingerless gloves and letterman’s jacket with the sleeves cut off. Classy. There’s also an extra rare non-awful YouTube comment that I needed to share: “Just in case anyone was wondering just? how white OU is.” Haha. It’s also funny how scared and embarrassed the girl that they’re trying to convince to go to OU looks the entire video.
I’m so glad Texas hasn’t yet had one of these videos pop up anywhere.
Awesome news for the relatively distant future as the Longhorns and Buckeyes have agreed to play a home and home series in 2022 and 2023. Here’s the details from MBTF:
Two of the most storied programs in college football history will meet again as The University of Texas and The Ohio State University have agreed to a future home and home series. The Buckeyes are slated to travel to Austin on Sept. 17, 2022 while the Longhorns will head to Columbus on Sept. 16, 2023. Texas and Ohio State last met at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in 2009.
The two schools with a combined 243 years of college football history and 1,693 all-time victories didn’t meet on the football field until 2005, but the Longhorns and Buckeyes have played three times since. No. 2 Texas knocked off No. 4 Ohio State, 25-22, in Columbus en route to the 2005 BCS National Championship. The No. 1 Buckeyes returned the favor, claiming a 24-7 win over the No. 2 Longhorns in Austin on its way to a BCS National Championship game berth in 2006. No. 3 Texas met No. 10 Ohio State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl following the 2008 season. The Longhorns came from behind to win that one, 24-21, on a Colt McCoy to Quan Cosby 26-yard TD strike with 16 seconds remaining.
It’s a long way off but nice to see the Longhorns continuing to strengthen their out of conference scheduling. There’s at least one really nice opponent on the schedule per year including series with Cal, Notre Dame, and USC.
WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from the Texas game against the Mountaineers.
Texas and Carrington Byndom couldn't make the big 4th down or red zone plays. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Pre-Game WTH Fans?! Wow. A record crowd of 101,851 fans were amped up for this contest. Fans were comparing the electricity in the stadium to when Cougar High came to Austin in 1990. Great job by the fans!
1st Quarter (15:00) WTH JY?! Vince Young was in person and on the giant video board to let the fans know that the “Eyes of Texas are Upon You.” Even his son Jordan got in on the act by getting caught on the video board pointing at the screen saying that’s my daddy.
1st Quarter (9:09) WTH Special Teams?! The kickoff coverage team gave the UT fans heart attacks when Tavon Austin touched the ball. It’s pretty bad when the stat sheet says kickoff of 64 yards and the return is 67 yards. Squib quicks were the order of the day after this long return.
1st Quarter (2:05) WTH Akina?! WVU was setting up for a fourth down play when Coach Akina did not think his secondary was set so he called a costly timeout. Costly? Because the Horns defense stepped up and held the offense on downs. Instead the Mountaineers went on to score on the very next play and subsequently succeed on every fourth down play the rest of the night.
2nd Quarter (15:00) WTH Southwest?! We can understand the need to promote oneself by setting up a stupid human trick by making fans throw a football into an inflatable receptacle. The problem is when you have the inflatables highlighted in Mountaineer school colors which are blue and gold. Bad omen.
2nd Quarter (10:01) WTH Dallas?! The Godzillatron feels it necessary to take us behind the scenes of certain players and cheerleaders because the fans clamor so much to be interrupted with this nonsense. One such interruption was to let us know that a pom squad member felt she looked like the villain from Monsters Inc.
2nd Quarter (7:37) WTH Alex the Great?! Alex Okafor was named Big XII defensive player of the week for his game changing plays. One of those moments was when he stripped Geno Smith and Jackson Jeffcoat recovered the fumble in the end zone to tie up the game.
2nd Quarter (4:51) WTH Dana?! No one can hold a candle to WVU Coach Dana Holgorsen when he throws a fit. Geno Smith was sacked by Desmond Jackson, one of four sacks for the UT defense, which eventually led to a Mountaineers field goal. Dana was so upset that he threw his headset down numerous times to let everyone on the sidelines know his disgust.
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